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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump cuts will lead to more deaths in disasters, expert warns: ‘It is really scary'
The Trump administration's sweeping cuts to disaster management will cost lives in the US, with hollowed-out agencies unable to accurately predict, prepare for or respond to extreme weather events, earthquakes and pandemics, a leading expert has warned. Samantha Montano, professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and author of Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis, said the death toll from disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes and water pollution will rise in the US unless Trump backtracks on mass layoffs and funding cuts to key agencies. That includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), whose work relies heavily on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), which is also being dismantled. 'The overall risk of threats and hazards occurring in the US has increased since this administration took over, while the capacity of our emergency management system is being diminished,' said Montano in an interview. 'Emergency managers will be operating blindly without the data that we have become accustomed to from Noaa and other science agencies. It's what we rely on to issue warnings and evacuation orders, and pre-position resources. It is really scary because we used to not have good weather data – and death tolls were remarkably higher. 'It is difficult to know if it will be the next hurricane where the response completely fails or three hurricanes from now. But I feel confident in saying that if the cuts continue, we will be seeing higher death tolls and more devastation, absolutely. It's beyond crazy that we are eliminating the funding for these agencies particularly at this moment where hazards are increasing because of climate change,' Montano said. Emergency management involves mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from all sorts of disasters including Covid and other major disease outbreaks, as well as floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and explosions. Fema works closely with state and local government agencies to provide resources, coordination, technical expertise, leadership and communication with the public. Since returning to the White House, Trump has threatened to disband Fema, frequently belittling the agency amid its ongoing efforts to help communities devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene, the category 4 storm that left at least 230 people dead in southern Appalachia. 'What happened with Helene was horrible, so much devastation and so many lives were lost. I don't want to minimize that, but it's also really important for people to understand that Helene could have been so much worse,' Montano said. 'There could have been a death toll into the thousands, if it were not for accurate forecasting, if it were not for Fema mobilizing and resources flowing as quickly and effectively as they did.' With the start of the hurricane and tornado season just days away, Fema's preparedness plans and billions of dollars in disaster assistance and grants have stalled. Reports suggest that more than a third of Fema's permanent full-time workforce has been fired or accepted buyouts, including some of its most experienced and knowledgable leaders who coordinate disaster responses – which can involve multiple federal agencies for months or years. About 75% of the agency's workforce are on-call or reservists whose contracts may not be renewed, internal memos suggest. 'There's already been a brain drain from Fema. We simply will not have the people to respond to a major disaster like Helene, but they're also going to run into problems responding to multiple smaller disasters – fires, floods, storms that happen around the country simultaneously, which with the climate crisis are becoming more common. The administration has lit the world's premier emergency-management agency on fire,' said Montano. Under Trump, Fema has so far denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina's request for an extension of federal relief, as recovery efforts from Helene continue. Pulling back resources will have an immediate impact on individual households and communities, many of whom voted for Trump. Somewhat harder to measure is the impact of shrinking Fema and the National Weather Service on messaging, a key element of emergency management that was already challenging amid mounting misinformation and disinformation about extreme weather, Covid, measles and even Fema itself. 'Effective communication rests on trust and I do not know how the American public can trust a single thing that this administration says and that extends to Fema,' Montano said, 'where they put in an acting administrator [Cameron Hamilton] who himself was spreading disinformation about the agency during Hurricane Helene.' Hamilton amplified false claims by Trump and Musk that Fema had spent disaster aid on immigrants and blocked help to North Carolina. Said Montano: 'In a communication ecosystem where there's already so much confusion, we have now lost Fema as a generally reliable source. It's difficult to see how people are going to get accurate information in major disasters, let alone deal with the complicated recovery process after … It's incredible, but every phase, every aspect of emergency management has been under assault in Trump's first 100 days … 'And while cuts to HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services] and USAID are most important for preventing disease outbreaks, everything being done to the emergency management system is also making us less prepared for the next pandemic.' Noaa's workforce and budget are also being shrunk, with the agency's National Weather Service (NWS) and climate research among the worst hit. Trump's policy blueprint, Project 2025, called for Noaa to 'be broken up and downsized', claiming the agency is a driver of the 'climate change alarm industry'. Trump and his billionaire donor Elon Musk are also trying to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer service that plays an important role in disaster recovery, as well as expelling immigrants who make up the majority of the disaster workforce. The cuts to Fema, Noaa, the NWS and other agencies involved in disaster prevention make little economic sense. For every dollar the federal government spends on mitigation, it saves at least $6 of taxpayer money in response and recovery. 'The National Weather Service and emergency management are really clear examples of where you need the government to function because it just isn't something that the private sector is going to be interested in and can't profit off,' said Montano. Most disaster mitigation or prevention happens behind the scenes, a complex process involving testing, standards, expertise and enforcement, which rarely generates scrutiny unless something goes wrong. 'The reason I feel so sure that we're going to see increasing death tolls from storms and other disasters is because the public – and many in this administration – perhaps do not understand the complexity of risk mitigation happening across federal agencies, which prevents these bigger disasters from happening,' said Montano. For instance, the 1972 Clean Water Act represents a massive ongoing mitigation project, according to Montano, which, along with other key environmental protection laws, is now under assault: 'With the erosion of those regulations, risks will go unmitigated and have the potential to turn into disaster. We are setting ourselves up for more water-related health crises, more Flints.' Related: Trump signs order to shift disaster preparations from Fema to state and local governments The impact of federal cuts will depend in part on to what extent state and local governments fill federal funding gaps. Historically, investment in emergency management to prevent future potential disasters has rarely been a political priority. 'Community organizing is going to be really critical here, to make sure there is pressure from local and state officials to pick up some of the slack. But, some of these are outside of the bounds of what a single state can do on their own, which is why we have federal regulations to begin with,' Montano said. Montano also believes Trump could still be forced to roll back some of his rollbacks, if there is pushback from the courts and voters. She said: 'I don't think they're done dismantling Fema, but the biggest wild card here is what and where disasters happen over the next several months – and the politics of that. The climate crisis is here, and these disasters are not stopping.' Fema was created by Jimmy Carter in 1979, and it is in need of reform amid increasingly destructive climate-fueled disasters, an overcomplicated applications process, and growing calls for improved state and local emergency management capacity. 'Our emergency management system was good in many ways, but major changes were needed. Now, we need to be focusing on creating a better system that is more effective, efficient and equitable, so that we're ready when some kind of reasonable sanity returns,' Montano said.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump cuts will increase devastation after disasters, expert warns: ‘It is really scary'
The Trump administration's sweeping cuts to disaster management will cost American lives, with hollowed-out agencies unable to accurately predict, prepare for or respond to extreme weather events, earthquakes and pandemics, a leading expert has warned. Samantha Montano, professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and author of Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis, said the death toll from disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes and water pollution will rise in the US unless Trump backtracks on mass layoffs and funding cuts to key agencies. That includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), whose work relies heavily on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), which is also being dismantled. 'The overall risk of threats and hazards occurring in the US has increased since this administration took over, while the capacity of our emergency management system is being diminished,' said Montano in an interview. 'Emergency managers will be operating blindly without the data that we have become accustomed to from Noaa and other science agencies. It's what we rely on to issue warnings and evacuation orders, and pre-position resources. It is really scary because we used to not have good weather data – and death tolls were remarkably higher.' 'It is difficult to know if it will be the next hurricane where the response completely fails or three hurricanes from now. But I feel confident in saying that if the cuts continue, we will be seeing higher death tolls and more devastation, absolutely. It's beyond crazy that we are eliminating the funding for these agencies particularly at this moment where hazards are increasing because of climate change,' Montano said. Emergency management involves mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from all sorts of disasters including Covid and other major disease outbreaks, as well as floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and explosions. Fema works closely with state and local government agencies to provide resources, coordination, technical expertise, leadership and communication with the public. Since returning to the White House, Trump has threatened to disband Fema, frequently belittling the agency amid its ongoing efforts to help communities devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene, the category 4 storm that left at least 230 people dead in southern Appalachia. 'What happened with Helene was horrible, so much devastation and so many lives were lost. I don't want to minimize that, but it's also really important for people to understand that Helene could have been so much worse,' Montano said. 'There could have been a death toll into the thousands, if it were not for accurate forecasting, if it were not for Fema mobilizing and resources flowing as quickly and effectively as they did.' With the start of the hurricane and tornado season just days away, Fema's preparedness plans and billions of dollars in disaster assistance and grants have stalled. Reports suggest that more than a third of Fema's permanent full-time workforce has been fired or accepted buy-outs, including some of its most experienced and knowledgeable leaders who coordinate disaster responses – which can involve multiple federal agencies for months or years. Around 75% of the agency's workforce are on-call or reservists whose contracts may not be renewed, internal memos suggest. 'There's already been a brain drain from Fema. We simply will not have the people to respond to a major disaster like Helene, but they're also going to run into problems responding to multiple smaller disasters – fires, floods, storms that happen around the country simultaneously, which with the climate crisis are becoming more common. The administration has lit the world's premier emergency-management agency on fire,' said Montano. Under Trump, Fema has so far denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina's request for an extension for federal relief, as recovery efforts from Helene continue. Pulling back resources will have an immediate impact on individual households and communities, many of whom voted for Trump. Somewhat harder to measure is the impact of shrinking Fema and the National Weather Service on messaging, a key element of emergency management that was already challenging amid mounting misinformation and disinformation about extreme weather, Covid, measles and even Fema itself. 'Effective communication rests on trust and I do not know how the American public can trust a single thing that this administration says and that extends to Fema,' Montano said, 'where they put in an acting administrator [Cameron Hamilton] who himself was spreading disinformation about the agency during Hurricane Helene.' Hamilton amplified false claims by Trump and Musk that Fema had spent disaster aid on immigrants and blocked help to North Carolina. Said Montano: 'In a communication ecosystem where there's already so much confusion, we have now lost Fema as a generally reliable source. It's difficult to see how people are going to get accurate information in major disasters, let alone deal with the complicated recovery process after … It's incredible, but every phase, every aspect of emergency management has been under assault in Trump's first 100 days. … 'And while cuts to HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services] and USAID are most important for preventing disease outbreaks, everything being done to the emergency management system is also making us less prepared for the next pandemic.' Noaa's workforce and budget are also being shrunk, with the agency's National Weather Service (NWS) and climate research among the worst hit. Trump's policy blueprint, Project 2025, called for Noaa to 'be broken up and downsized', claiming the agency is a driver of the 'climate change alarm industry'. Trump and his billionaire donor Elon Musk are also trying to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer service that plays an important role in disaster recovery, as well as expelling immigrants who make up the majority of the disaster workforce. The cuts to Fema, Noaa, the NWS and other agencies involved in disaster prevention make little economic sense. For every dollar the federal government spends on mitigation, it saves at least $6 of taxpayer money in response and recovery. 'The National Weather Service and emergency management are really clear examples of where you need the government to function because it just isn't something that the private sector is going to be interested in and can't profit off,' said Montano. Most disaster mitigation or prevention happens behind the scenes, a complex process involving testing, standards, expertise and enforcement, which rarely generates scrutiny unless something goes wrong. 'The reason I feel so sure that we're going to see increasing death tolls from storms and other disasters is because the public – and many in this administration – perhaps do not understand the complexity of risk mitigation happening across federal agencies, which prevents these bigger disasters from happening,' said Montano. For instance, the 1972 Clean Water Act represents a massive ongoing mitigation project, according to Montano, which, along with other key environmental protection laws, is now under assault: 'With the erosion of those regulations, risks will go unmitigated and have the potential to turn into disaster. We are setting ourselves up for more water-related health crises, more Flints.' The impact of federal cuts will depend in part on to what extent state and local governments fill federal funding gaps. Historically, investment in emergency management to prevent future potential disasters has rarely been a political priority. 'Community organizing is going to be really critical here, to make sure there is pressure from local and state officials to pick up some of the slack. But, some of these are outside of the bounds of what a single state can do on their own, which is why we have federal regulations to begin with,' Montano said. Montano also believes Trump could still be forced to roll back some of his rollbacks, if there is pushback from the courts and voters. She said: 'I don't think they're done dismantling Fema, but the biggest wild card here is what and where disasters happen over the next several months – and the politics of that. The climate crisis is here, and these disasters are not stopping.' Fema was created by Jimmy Carter in 1979, and it is in need of reform amid increasingly destructive climate-fueled disasters, an over-complicated applications process, and growing calls for improved state and local emergency management capacity. 'Our emergency management system was good in many ways, but major changes were needed. Now, we need to be focusing on creating a better system that is more effective, efficient and equitable, so that we're ready when some kind of reasonable sanity returns,' Montano said.
Boston Globe
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
See photos from Boston's St. Patrick's Day Parade
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu marches in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff People cheer as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (not pictured) marches in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff A member of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's honor guard waves an Irish flag during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff US Navy Lt. Commander Alanna Devlin Ball is the 2025 chief marshal of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff A float for The Finn McCools rolls down Broadway, in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, in South Boston. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Boston City councilor Ed Flynn walks in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Police presence along the parade route before the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff With rainbows on her cheeks, Isa Trello, 21, of Boston, waits on Dorchester Street for the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, in South Boston. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff The first time wearing body paint, Paul Healey, of Holbrook, walks with friends toward the action of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, in South Boston. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Parade-goers walk up and down Silver street after the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff People cheer during the annual St. Patrick's day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff South Boston, MA- 3/16/25- Parade goers watch during the annual St. Patrick's day parade. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff) Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Miranda Medlen-Ursell of Boston University's Army ROTC high-fives parade-goers during the annual St. Patrick's day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff People cheer during the annual St. Patrick's day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff A parade viewer cheers on marchers during the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images A drummer performs during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Empty containers used for homemade drinks overflow the garbage cans after the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press A man dressed as a leprechaun slaps hands with the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press A Shriner motors by the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Spectators cheer during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press A sheet metal worker high-fives the crowd during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press A man on a float encourages the crowd to cheer louder during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press People dressed as leprechauns dance during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images People wave flags and cheer on parade marchers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Parade viewers wave flags and cheer on marchers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Confetti is pumped into the air at the ribbon cutting ceremony during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images The Boston Police Gaelic Column of Pipes and Drums marches during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Singers cheer on the crowd as they march during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images People dance in the streets during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images A skull faced leprechaun greets parade viewers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Parade viewers wave flags and cheer on marchers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images A member of the US Navy slaps hands with parade viewers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Minute Men Militia reenactors fire off a salvo during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Parade viewers wave flags and cheer on marchers during the annual St. Patrick's Day & Evacuation Day Parade in Boston, Massachusetts on March 16, 2025. JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images Spectators watch the St. Patrick's Day parade from a balcony, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Michele Hunter, of Pawlet, Vt., center left, and Erin Riley, of Saugus, Mass., cheer a performer at the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Boston, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Parade-goers walk toward the route before the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Participants dressed as Minutemen march during the St. Patrick's Day parade. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Spectators celebrate during the St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press William Reed can be reached at
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Unconstitutional': Mass. gun law opponents challenge restrictions on young adults
Firearms owners added another prong to their campaign against a sweeping Massachusetts law, filing a new federal lawsuit late last week challenging its constitutionality. While other lawsuits and a repeal campaign continue to unfold, a coalition of industry groups including the National Rifle Association and Massachusetts gun owners on Friday sued over firearm age restrictions included in the wide-reaching package Gov. Maura Healey signed in July. Plaintiffs argue the law violates Second Amendment rights by preventing Bay Staters older than 18 but younger than 21 from possessing or carrying handguns and semiautomatic firearms. 'Adults between the ages of 18 and 20 are part of 'the people,' and there is no historical tradition of limiting the firearms rights of adults on account of their age,' they wrote in their complaint. 'And as for the types of firearms that Massachusetts forbids them from owning, much less carrying, there can be no dispute that they qualify as 'arms' within the 'plain text' meaning of the Second Amendment.' People ages 18 to 20 years old in Massachusetts can acquire firearm identification cards, but that document does not grant the ability to purchase, possess or transfer handguns or semiautomatic firearms, according to plaintiffs. To do so, someone would need to obtain a license to carry, which the law restricts only to people 21 and older. One of the plaintiffs is Mack Escher of Brewster, a student at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who falls in the 18-to-20 age range. He has a firearm identification card, but under the new law is unable to purchase or possess a handgun or semiautomatic firearm. He was joined in the lawsuit by the Gun Owners' Action League, Commonwealth Second Amendment, the Firearms Policy Coalition Inc, the Second Amendment Foundation and the NRA as well as the national group Gun Owners of America Inc. 'Massachusetts's new gun control law is one of the most severe attacks on the right to keep and bear arms in our nation's history,' John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement alongside the lawsuit. 'Vindicating the rights of young adults is just our first step towards dismantling this unconstitutional law.' Supporters of the massive law here argue that it will save lives, especially as police work to limit the spread of untraceable 'ghost guns,' and keep gun violence rates in Massachusetts low. Plaintiffs cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen decision, which deemed unconstitutional a New York law that required applicants to show special need to obtain a concealed carry license. That landmark decision served as a catalyst for the Massachusetts legislation two years later. The new case focused on young adult firearms rights is the latest piece of a broad effort targeting the new restrictions and reforms. It's at least the third lawsuit filed in federal court so far. The first challenge, filed soon after Healey signed the measure, focused on new licensing and training frameworks. Plaintiffs dropped that case in December after the Legislature delayed the effective date of a requirement for applicants to complete a live-fire training course. The second case, filed in October, argues that updated definitions for assault-style weapons in the Massachusetts law violate the Second Amendment. That case, known as Recchia v. Healey, is ongoing. On Friday, the assistant attorney general representing Massachusetts asked a judge for more time to outline the state's push to dismiss the suit, writing that she is also busy working on a multistate lawsuit challenging the Office of Management and Budget's potential federal funding freeze. 'That case was filed shortly after the Governor's first request for an extension in this action and has involved temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction proceedings, with frequent, urgent filing deadlines, including further preliminary injunction briefing due today, February 14, 2025, and a hearing on the motion to be held on Friday, February 21, 2025,' Assistant Attorney General Vanessa Arslanian wrote in a motion filed in the gun case Friday. 'A brief extension, therefore, will permit undersigned counsel to adequately prepare the reply memorandum.' U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns granted the extension Tuesday, giving Arslanian until March 3 to file a memo in support of her motion to dismiss the firearms lawsuit. Meanwhile, firearms owners are also hoping to undo the law by securing the support of voters. A group of Second Amendment supporters and gun owners known as the Civil Rights Coalition secured enough voter signatures to put a question on the 2026 ballot proposing to repeal the law. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Boston Globe
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Gun law opponents challenge restrictions on young adults
'Adults between the ages of 18 and 20 are part of 'the people,' and there is no historical tradition of limiting the firearms rights of adults on account of their age,' they wrote in their complaint. 'And as for the types of firearms that Massachusetts forbids them from owning, much less carrying, there can be no dispute that they qualify as 'arms' within the 'plain text' meaning of the Second Amendment.' People ages 18 to 20 in Massachusetts can acquire firearm identification cards, but that document does not grant the ability to purchase, possess, or transfer handguns or semiautomatic firearms, according to plaintiffs. To do so, someone would need to obtain a license to carry, which the law restricts only to people 21 and older. Advertisement One of the plaintiffs is Mack Escher of Brewster, a student at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who falls in the 18-to-20 age range. He has a firearm identification card, but under the new law is unable to purchase or possess a handgun or semiautomatic firearm. He was joined in the lawsuit by the Gun Owners' Action League, Commonwealth Second Amendment, the Firearms Policy Coalition Inc, the Second Amendment Foundation, and the NRA, as well as the national group Gun Owners of America Inc. 'Massachusetts's new gun control law is one of the most severe attacks on the right to keep and bear arms in our nation's history,' John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement alongside the lawsuit. 'Vindicating the rights of young adults is just our first step towards dismantling this unconstitutional law.' Advertisement Supporters of the massive law argue that it will save lives, especially as police work to limit the spread of untraceable 'ghost guns,' and keep gun violence rates in Massachusetts low. Plaintiffs cited the US Supreme Court's 2022 New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen decision, which deemed unconstitutional a New York law that required applicants to show special need to obtain a concealed carry license. That landmark decision served as a catalyst for the Massachusetts legislation two years later. The new case, focused on young adult firearms rights, is the latest piece of a broad effort targeting the new restrictions and reforms. It is at least the third lawsuit filed in federal court so far. The first challenge, filed soon after Healey signed the measure, focused on new licensing and training frameworks. Plaintiffs dropped that case in December after the Legislature delayed the effective date of a requirement for applicants to complete a live-fire training course.
